Although it may be August and feel like anything but football weather, two San Fernando Valley Catholic high school teams will open their 2019 football seasons this week.
On Aug. 16, Bishop Alemany of Mission Hills plays host to Jordan of Sandy, Utah, while St. Genevieve of Panorama City is home to Pasadena. The Warriors reached the quarterfinals of the 2018 CIF-Southern Section Division 2 playoffs, finishing 7-5 (third in the Mission League), while the Valiants were 5-5 (fourth in the Del Rey League).
Most high school teams will start their seasons the following week, including nationally ranked No. 1 Mater Dei, which hosts No. 9 Centennial (Corona) in an Aug. 23 matchup of two perennially powerful Division 1 teams. St. John Bosco, ranked third nationally in Maxpreps’ preseason poll, hosts No. 8 DeMatha (Maryland) in its season opener on Aug. 24 in Bellflower.
Other games taking place next week include:
August 22: Diamond Ranch at Bishop Amat; New Design (Watts) at Cantwell Sacred Heart.
August 23: Cathedral at Banning (Wilmington); Alemany at Higley (Gilbert, Arizona); Don Bosco Tech at Bolsa Grande; Mary Star at Gladstone; Valley Christian (Cerritos) at St. Anthony; Santa Margarita at Redlands (East Valley); Oaks Christian at Chaminade; Glendora at Damien; Crespi at Canyon (Canyon Country); Capistrano Valley Christian at St. Monica (Santa Monica); Salesian at St. Bernard; J.Serra at East; Firebaugh at Verbum Dei.
August 24: Santa Clara at Santa Clarita Christian; Bishop Diego at Cabrillo (Lompoc).
The regular season (nine or ten games for most teams) concludes Nov. 1. CIF-SS first round playoff action in 13 divisions starts Nov. 8 with finals Nov. 29 and 30, Southern California Regionals on Dec. 6 and 7, and State Championships on Dec. 14 and 15.
Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).
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